Parent Teacher Conferences

I love that while waiting for the next conference all of my kids grabbed their new books and sat reading.  Todd and I both love to read and I hope they all catch the bug too.  

All the meetings went great.  Tayson is right in the middle with everything and seems good.  His teacher is dealing with family issues right now and he has a long term sub but things seem to be running smoother now for him.  

Luke's was the usual - he's a perfect student.  His teacher was excited to tell me that he got tested for the gifted program but we aren't sure what our plans are with him yet for next year. 

Claire was great in hers too.  She is reading ahead of grade level and even read a paragraph to me in Portuguese then told me what it meant in English.  I was very impressed. 

First snow of the season

While I was off enjoying the sun and fun in San Francisco - Todd and the kids were getting pounded with snow.  More snow than we had all last winter I think.  It pretty much snowed the entire time I was gone.  I'm sad that I missed the first snow of the year and seeing my kids get bundled up to play in the snow.  And I missed the first necessary hot cocoa of the year - but at least Todd was sending me pictures the whole time. There is something so cute about kids bundled up in snow clothes.  I love it!

Girls Trip to San Fran

Even though I had a girls weekend last week - this was only weekend that worked out to go with my old college roomies Kati and Amy.  So I got to get away for another weekend trip.  I flew out Friday morning and home Sunday afternoon.  When I left it was just starting to snow and I think it might have snowed the entire time I was gone. 

 I'm re-reading the Hobbit before the movie comes out next month - and thanks to delayed flights both ways I got 2/3 of the way finished.

In the taxi on our way to the hotel.  

My hair is ridiculous - but I had to have a self-portrait to document the good times.

After lunch and a bit of shopping we got manicures - mine are the brown nails.

Then we went to the show "Beach Blanket Babylon" - it was hilarious!  We sat in the very first row.

Saturday was our "tourist" day so we put on our tennis shoes and jackets and headed out.  We walked 2 miles down to Fisherman's Warf to start our adventure.

We rented bikes so we could ride across the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was so much fun!  The ride was between 8-9 miles total and had a few good hills.  We rode from the wharf to the bridge then across then over to Saulsalito  for lunch then we took the Ferry back to the wharf.

Crossing the bridge and taking a picture while riding - I live dangerously!

Half-way across

Across the bridge

Helmet hair!!

If you look closely you can see the sea lions behind me

Pointing at Alcatraz 

Ghiradelli Square - delicious

My sundae

I am a dork

After such a fun-filled day we were exhausted so we finished off the night by going to the movies

Breakfast at a delicious little french bakery 

On the Bart heading to the airport

On my flight home Todd was on his flight out to Atlanta - thanks to technology we could iMessage each other while we were on the plane.

When I got back to the airport the van was completely covered in snow.  I had no gloves and no ice scraper so I had to make due with a useless DVD - thank goodness it wasn't frozen to the winsheild and I just had to get the foot of snow off so my wipers could work.  And thank goodness it wasn't still snowing.  I guess it's time to find the scraper and get it back in the car.  Winter is here.

We the People

Tonight Tayson had his 5th grade program "We the People".  It was a great program and I was so happy that Tayson participated so much.  He used to just sit there and make faces - now he sings the songs!  The program was just what I needed the day after the elections.  Since I wasn't super happy with the outcome of the elections it was a great reminder for me that I am grateful to live in a free country.  We sang the National Anthem and it really hit me how proud I am to be an American and just how blessed I am to live here.  Even when our country is struggling economically and things seem rather depressing it is still a chosen land and I am grateful to be here and be raising my family here.  Thanks for the reminder Tays!

 

My new do

I decided it was time to mix it up a little so today at my hair appointment we went a bit "edgier"  and cut the bottom super super short (almost shaved).  I really like it - fun and still feminine. 

Monochromatic

This morning while the kids were getting ready for school I noticed they had all put on monochromatic outfits.  I love how they "match" their clothes.  But I don't complain because they get themselves ready on their own.  As you can tell Claire isn't much of a morning person. 

Girls Trip to St. George

I got to head down to warm weather with the running crew for a few days of fun.  I so love these girls.  It was so much fun to just relax and hang out, shop, eat, cheer on friends, go for a run, and of course draw our legs for next years Ragnar.

 

 To show we were the "party car" we put on these sweet hats for a photo op

I drew runner #1 for next year

These 2 amazing girls ran the Snow Canyon 1/2 marathon 

Our whole crew after the race

Enjoying relaxing in the sun - reading magazines and chatting

Our last dinner before half of us had to head home and back to reality

Shannon drew leg 10 - Ragnar Hill so we thought this crazy gas station sign was appropriate